Severe U.S. Income Inequality Inspires Have-Nots: Josh Tyrangiel

If there’s a lesson from Occupy Wall Street, it’s that anger, tents, and drumming are no threat to the global financial system.

Which is not to say that the Occupiers missed their mark. They wielded a brilliant array of indicators and statistics, held aloft for the world’s cameras and honed to inflict maximum damage to American self-esteem. For instance: “The U.S. has greater income inequality than Russia, China, and Cameroon.” In a dozen words the whole premise of American exceptionalism -- that only here, under liberty, do fortunes rise and fall on merit -- gets body-slammed. It’s a picket sign that leaves bruises. It also happens to be true.